Waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes and shoe provided with said sole

ABSTRACT

A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, including a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material. An upper functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, affects at least part of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface of the lower component. An upper component is arranged substantially on top of the functional layer and includes a plurality of pumping elements, which are directed toward the upper part corresponding to the inside of the shoe. The functional layer is joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a waterproof and vapor-permeable solefor shoes.

The invention also relates to the shoe provided by means of said sole.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, it is known that a shoe, in order to be comfortable, mustensure correct heat and water vapor exchange between the microclimateinside the shoe and the outside.

The heat and vapor exchanges, however, must not compromise in any casethe waterproofness of the shoe to external humidity or water.

Soles are already known which solve the problem of the internal vaporpermeation of the shoe.

Among these, the one that has had the greatest industrial applicationconsists of a sole made of perforated elastomer, on which a functionallayer is sealed perimetrically which contains a membrane made of amaterial that is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water,usually expanded PTFE, so as to keep the foot dry with respect to thehumidity created by perspiration, which is expelled appropriately.

The membrane prevents the water from entering the sole up to contactwith the foot.

Although they have been commercially available for many years, solesthat apply this technical principle are not free from aspects that canbe improved, above all the substantially “static” nature of the system,which is actuated only due to the different climate conditions betweenthe inside and the outside of the shoe, which convey the vapor outsideby osmosis.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to devise a waterproof andvapor-permeable sole for shoes that increases the transport of the vaporfrom the inside to the outside of a shoe with a perforated sole providedwith a functional layer that is impermeable to water and permeable towater vapor.

A consequent object of the present invention is to allow better moisturepermeation of the foot so that it remains dry in any condition of use.

Another object of the present invention is to create an optimummicroclimate inside the shoe, even in demanding situations, such as inthe case of sports use.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparenthereinafter are achieved by a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole forshoes, comprising in succession from the bottom:

-   -   a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material    -   a functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and        permeable to water vapor and affects at least part of the        extension of the vapor-permeable surface of said lower component    -   an upper component, which is arranged substantially on top of        said functional layer and has a plurality of pumping elements,        which are directed toward the part corresponding to the inside        of the shoe,        said functional layer being joined at least perimetrically and        hermetically to at least one component of the sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will becomebetter apparent from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof,illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial transverse sectional view of a shoe with a soleaccording to the invention in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the components of the sole ofthe shoe in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a first variation of a component of thesole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second variation of a component of thesole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third variation of a component of thesole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a sole according tothe invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a sole according tothe invention.

It is noted that anything found to be already known during the patentingprocess is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of adisclaimer.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole forshoes, in a first embodiment, is generally designated by the referencenumeral 10.

The sole, by way of example, comprises, in succession from the bottom:

-   -   a lower component 11, which is made of polymeric material and is        vapor-permeable because it is provided conveniently with through        holes 12,    -   a functional layer, generally designated by the reference        numeral 13, which is impermeable to water and permeable to water        vapor and affects at least part of the extension of the surface        where the through holes 12 are present,    -   an upper component 14, which is arranged substantially on top of        said functional layer 13 and has a plurality of pumping elements        15, which are directed toward the upper part corresponding to        the inside of a shoe 23.

The lower component 11 can have through holes with small dimensions withcross-sections on the order of one or more millimeters and/or with largeopenings with cross-sections on the order of a square centimeter andmore.

As an alternative, there can be a lower component 11 that is at leastpartially porous with open pores (not shown), in order to allow thepassage of air and/or water vapor through it.

According to the invention, the functional layer 13 is joined at leastperimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole10.

In particular, the functional layer 13 can be sealed

-   -   to the lower component 11, or    -   to the upper component 14, which is then sealed in turn to the        lower component 11.

Advantageously, the functional layer 13 can comprise a membrane 17 madeof microporous expanded PTFE or the like, which is impermeable to waterand permeable to water vapor and air, preferably laminated with at leastone fine mesh (not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity) ismade of plastic material for supporting it.

As an alternative to the membrane 17, the functional layer 13 cancomprise an insert with a stratified and cohesive monolithic sheet-likestructure, which comprises a plurality of functional layers made of apolymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to watervapor, such as the one disclosed in EPA no. 09425334.1 dated Aug. 28,2009 by the same Applicant, or an insert with a monolithic sheet-likestructure, made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water andpermeable to water vapor, such as the one disclosed in EPA no.09425336.6 dated Aug. 28, 2009 by the same Applicant.

Conveniently, the functional layer 13 can comprise a support 19 made ofmaterial that is hydrophilic, permeable to water vapor and optionallyalso impermeable to water.

Preferably, the functional layer 13 comprises a layer 20 for protectingthe membrane 17 and/or the support 19, arranged in a lower region, madeof vapor-permeable material and capable of drying rapidly, such as feltof non-woven fabric, conveniently treated to be water-repellent.

Conveniently, the protective layer 20 is arranged below the membrane 17and/or the support 19, between the membrane 17 and/or the support 19 andthe lower component 11 and directly above said lower component 11, atthe through holes 12 or at the large openings in order to protect themembrane 17 and/or the support 19 from external impacts or foreignobjects that can penetrate through the lower component 11.

Moreover, the protective layer 20 and the membrane 17 and/or the support19 are advantageously mutually coupled, for example, by spot gluing byusing a commercially available adhesive that is resistant to hydrolysis(the type commonly known as “hot melt” or systems with calenderedpowders).

Also according to the invention, the pumping elements 15 are preferablyco-molded directly on the functional layer 13 and are constituted bysubstantially suction cap-like tubular elements and/or substantiallyopen hourglass-like tubular elements and/or substantially bellows-liketubular elements and/or elements shaped like a spherical dome that isperforated at the top, mutually spaced in order to make the shoe morecomfortable during use.

This is done to ensure that during movements caused by walking, theimpacts by the foot during its resting step are cushioned and a downwardpressure movement of the air contained is provided so as to force thepassage of the contained vapor through the functional layer 13.

Moreover, the pumping elements 15 constituted by tubular elements areconnected by a plurality of lattices 27 so as to prevent, during themolding of the upper component 14, the injected material from coveringcompletely the surface of the functional layer 13.

The co-molding and thus the direct sealing of each one of the pumpingelements 15 to the functional layer 13 conveniently allows to createair-filled chambers which, thanks to the compression of said pumpingelements 15, during walking, allow to expel humid air, which arrivesfrom the inside of the shoe, through the microporosity of the membrane17.

In this manner, inside the tubular pumping elements, besides transportby osmosis, an active outward transport of the air and the water vaporthrough the microporous membrane 17 is generated as well.

The portion of the functional layer 13 left free of the polymericmaterial of the upper component 14 continues to work by osmosis.

The pumping elements 15, constituted by tubular elements, have greatresilience and resistance to permanent deformations and are preferablymade of elastic and flexible thermoplastic material, substantiallyshaped like a suction cap and/or an open hourglass and/or bellows and/orshaped like a spherical dome that is perforated at the top.

Again with particular reference to FIG. 1, the upper component 14 withthe pumping elements 15 is co-molded on the functional layer 13 so as todefine an insert 16, to which the vapor-permeable lower component 11 isjoined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.

In practice, the insert 16 is provided separately and then appliedhermetically to the lower component 11, in an appropriately providedseat 21 thereof.

The sealing of the lower component 11 can be created by perimetricgluing with hydrolysis-resistant glues.

Such insert 16, in this case, also comprises, in addition to thefunctional layer 13 and the upper component 14, an element 25, whichaffects perimetrically the edge regions of the functional layer 13. Themembrane 17 and/or the support 19, together with the protective layer20, of the functional layer 13 are sealed at the edge regions to theelement 25, made of polymeric material (for example thermoplastic rubberor polyurethane), adapted to define for them a support both duringassembly step and during working step.

Therefore, the connection between the functional layer 13 and theelement 25 occurs advantageously without using adhesives or withadhesives only in the perimetric portion.

The limitation of sealing to a perimetric band constituted by the edgeregions of the functional layer allows to keep vapor permeationunchanged for most of the surface of the insert 16.

An upper 22 (for example made of natural leather without coveringpigments) is joined conveniently to the sole 10 according to theinvention and is associated with a vapor-permeable and/or perforatedlining 24 (for example made of so-called Cambrelle) in order to form ashoe 23. The lining 24 is associated with the upper 22 by spot gluing soas to not compromise vapor permeation through the latter.

The shoe 23 further comprises, in this case, an insole 26 made ofvapor-permeable and/or perforated material (for example natural leather,felt or cellulose material), which can be associated optionally with aheel seat made of soft leather with absorbent rubber latex, notillustrated.

The insole 26, in this case, is joined to the upper 22 by way of a seam28 of the strobel type.

A footbed 29 is arranged at the resting region of the foot.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, in a first constructive variationof the insert, now 116, the element 125 that seals the functional layer113 at its edge regions has an upper surface that is free from pumpingelements 115.

This solution allows more uniform and efficient pressing during theprocess for gluing the insert 116 to the lower component 11 for bettermechanical strength of the bonding.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, in a second constructive variationof the insert, now 216, the upper component 214 with the pumpingelements 215 is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing with sealing tothe functional layer 213, so as to form an insert to which the lowervapor-permeable component 11 is joined by gluing with a perimetric sealor by co-molding.

Conveniently, in this case also the direct sealing of each one of thepumping elements 215 to the functional layer 213 allows to createair-filled chambers which, thanks to the compression of the pumpingelements 215, allow the expulsion of the air and/or water vapor throughthe functional layer 213.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, in a third constructive variationof the insert, now 316, the element 325 that seals the functional layer313 at its edge regions is constituted by a ring-shaped element, madefor example of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The upper component 314,which is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, is inserted inside theelement 325 advantageously so as to seal the pumping elements 315, onthe functional layer 313.

The whole insert 16, 116, 216, 316 can be made modular so that it can beused on different types of sole and on different sizes.

Again, one observes the easy insertion of the insert in the lowercomponent, thus facilitating the positioning of the functional layer 13,113, 213, 313, which can be applied with absolute precision.

In fact, the very contour of the insert cooperates to the precision ofthe positioning, a shape being perimetrically provided, for said insert,which is substantially shaped complementarily with respect to theremaining components of the sole between which it has to beaccommodated.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, in a second embodiment of the soleaccording to the invention, the functional layer 413 is an insert whichis provided separately and then applied to the lower component 411, inan adapted seat 421 thereof, and is sealed by means of an element 425that joins the entire assembly to the upper (not shown). The uppercomponent 414 is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, convenientlywith the pumping elements 415 sealed to the functional layer 413.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of a soleaccording to the invention is fully similar to the sole 10 and isgenerally designated by the reference numeral 500.

In this embodiment, the sole 500 has means for protecting the functionallayer 513, which are constituted by a composite lower component 511.

In particular, the lower component 511 comprises a waterproof portion511 a in contact with the ground and a portion 511 b made of porousmaterial with open pores in order to allow the passage of air and/orwater vapor through it.

In particular, the part 511 b makes contact with, or in any case faces,the membrane 517 and/or the support 519 of the functional layer 513, towhich it is joined at least in the edge regions (in which a seal isprovided).

The part 511 b is completely permeable and therefore allows thepermeation of the perspiration that has formed inside the shoe.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modificationsand variations, all of which are within the scope of the appendedclaims; all the details may further be replaced with other technicallyequivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with thespecific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may beany according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2009A000300 fromwhich this application claims priority are incorporated herein byreference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed byreference signs, those reference signs have been included for the solepurpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordinglysuch reference signs do not have any limiting effect on theinterpretation of each element identified by way of example by suchreference signs.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes,comprising in succession from the bottom: a vapor-permeable lowercomponent made of polymeric material; a functional layer, which as awhole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and affectsat least a portion of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface ofsaid lower component; and an upper component, which is arrangedsubstantially on top of said functional layer and includes a pluralityof pumping elements, which are directed toward a portion correspondingto the inside of the shoe, said functional layer being joined at leastperimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.24. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said lower componentincludes selectively: through holes with small dimensions withcross-sections on the order of one or more millimeters and/or with largeopenings with a cross-section on the order of a square centimeter andmore; at least partially open pores, to allow through passage of air.25. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer issealed selectively: to said lower component; to said upper component,which is then sealed to said lower component.
 26. The sole according toclaim 23, wherein said functional layer comprises a membrane made ofmicroporous expanded PTFE, which is impermeable to water and permeableto water vapor.
 27. The sole according to claim 26, wherein saidmembrane is laminated with a fine mesh of plastic material forsupporting it.
 28. The sole according to claim 23, wherein saidfunctional layer comprises a support made of a hydrophilic materialselected among: material which is permeable to water vapor; materialwhich is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water.
 29. The soleaccording to claim 27, wherein said functional layer comprises aprotective layer for protecting the membrane and/or said support,arranged in a lower region, made of vapor-permeable material and capableof drying rapidly.
 30. The sole according to claim 29, wherein saidprotective layer and said membrane and/or said support are mutuallycoupled by spot gluing by using an adhesive that is resistant tohydrolysis.
 31. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functionallayer comprises an insert selected among: a stratified and cohesivemonolithic sheet-like structure, which comprises a plurality offunctional layers made of a polymeric material that is impermeable towater and permeable to water vapor; a monolithic sheet-like structuremade of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeableto water vapor.
 32. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said pumpingelements are molded directly on said functional layer.
 33. The soleaccording to claim 23, wherein said pumping elements are constitutedselectively among: substantially suction cap-like tubular elements;substantially open hourglass-like tubular elements; substantiallybellows-like tubular elements; elements shaped like a spherical domethat is perforated at the top.
 34. The sole according to claim 32,wherein said pumping elements are co-molded directly on said functionallayer with direct sealing of each one of said pumping elements to saidfunctional layer.
 35. The sole according to claim 23, wherein saidpumping elements are connected by a plurality of lattices so as toprevent, during molding of the upper component, injected material fromcovering completely the surface of the functional layer.
 36. The soleaccording to claim 23, wherein said upper component with said pumpingelements is co-molded on said functional layer so as to form an insert,to which said lower component is joined by gluing with a perimetric sealor by co-molding.
 37. The sole according to claim 36, wherein saidinsert also comprises, in addition to said functional layer and theupper component, an element that affects perimetrically and seals edgeregions of said functional layer, being adapted to form for it a supportboth during an assembly and during a working.
 38. The sole according toclaim 23, wherein said upper component with said pumping elements ispre-molded and then assembled by gluing with sealing to said functionallayer, so as to form an insert to which said lower vapor-permeablecomponent is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.39. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer issealed at its edge regions to an element, constituted by a ring-shapedelement, inside which said upper component is inserted, which ispre-molded and then assembled by gluing, so as to seal said pumpingelements, to said functional layer, so as to form an insert to whichsaid lower vapor-permeable component is joined by gluing with aperimetric seal or by co-molding.
 40. The sole according to claim 23,wherein said functional layer is an insert which is provided separatelyand then applied to said lower component, in a seat thereof, and issealed by an element that joins the entire assembly to the upper. 41.The sole according to claim 36, wherein said insert is inserted in aseat of said lower component.
 42. The sole according to claim 40,wherein said upper component is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing,with said pumping elements sealed to said functional layer.
 43. The soleaccording to claim 23, wherein said lower component is a composite,comprising a waterproof portion in contact with the ground and a portionmade of porous material to allow the passage of air and/or water vaporthrough it.
 44. A shoe comprising a sole according to claim 23.